JVA MB8 User manual

JVA ELECTRIC FENCE ENERGIZER
MB8 • MB12 • MB16
Installation and User Manual
JVA AGRIRANGE ENERGIZERS
www.jva-fence.com.au
October 2019 Edition

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INTRODUCTION
Congratulations, and welcome to the shocking world of JVA. We thank you for placing your faith in our
product range. In doing so you have joined the world-wide body of satised JVA users who are beneting
from our products.
The JVA range of energizers is the result of a joint venture between the Australian company, Pakton
Technologies and the South African company Ndlovu Fencing (Pty) Ltd. With over 40 years’ experience
in some of the harshest agricultural and security environments around the globe, JVA Technologies has
produced a comprehensive range of agricultural, wildlife and security energizers that meet the needs
of these diverse markets. The range extends from small strip grazing energizers to very high-powered
units which incorporate Wi-Fi, Auto-SyncTM, capable of partitioning long game fences into fty individual
sectors. For full particulars of our energizer ranges and fencing accessories, visit our websites:
www.jva-fence.com or www.jvasecurity.com
TWO-YEAR WARRANTY
All JVA products carry a 2-year warranty against defective components and faulty workmanship.
The warranty excludes damage caused by acts of Nature such as lightning, re and ooding,
power supply surges, rough handling, malicious action or incorrect wiring.
Consumable components (i.e. batteries) are also not covered under the warranty agreement.
2-yr
WARRANTY
MAINS OR BATTERY POWERED
(See warning on page 6)
BUILT-IN WI-FI
AUTO-SYNCTM
MULTI-SECTORIZATION
CAPABLE OF SECTORIZING UP
TO 50 SECTORS
IEC/SANS 60335.2.76 APPROVED

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Table of Contents
1. IMPORTANT NOTES – PLEASE READ .................................................. 1
1.1 Electric Fences............................................................................. 1
1.2 Energizers ................................................................................. 1
1.3 Power Supply Options ..................................................................... 1
1.4 Auto-Sync™ ............................................................................... 2
1.5 Wi-Fi ....................................................................................... 2
1.6 Rechargeable Batteries ................................................................... 3
2. JVA MODELS AND FEATURES ........................................................... 3
2.1 Features ................................................................................... 3
2.2 Benets of Features........................................................................ 4
2.3 Specications .............................................................................. 5
3. PARTS OF THE ENERGIZER ............................................................. 6
3.1 Fence Connectors ......................................................................... 7
3.2 Energizer LED Display ..................................................................... 8
3.3 Power Button .............................................................................. 8
4. INSTALLATION............................................................................ 9
4.1 Location of the Energizer................................................................... 9
4.2 Mounting the Energizer .................................................................... 9
4.3 Connecting the Energizer to the Fence .................................................... 9
4.4 Connecting the Energizer to the Fence (Bi-Polar) ......................................... 9
4.5 Powering the Energizer .................................................................... 9
5. OPERATION............................................................................... 10
5.1 Electric Fences............................................................................. 10
5.2 Benets of Electric Fences ................................................................. 10
5.3 All-Live Earth Return System............................................................... 11
5.4 Live-/Earth-Wire Fence Return System .................................................... 11
5.5 Bi-Polar System (Fig 3) .................................................................... 12
5.6 Earthing Your Energizer .................................................................... 12
5.7 Semi-Permanent and Permanent Fences .................................................. 12
5.8 The Importance of Insulators............................................................... 13
5.9 Maintenance ............................................................................... 13

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6. COMMON ENERGIZER PROBLEMS ..................................................... 13
6.1 Flat Batteries............................................................................... 14
6.2 Lightning ................................................................................... 14
6.3 Moisture and Ants .......................................................................... 14
6.4 Blown Fuses ............................................................................... 14
6.5 Errors and Error Codes .................................................................... 14
7. COMMON FENCE PROBLEMS ........................................................... 15
7.1 Testing the Earthing/Grounding System .................................................... 15
7.2 Testing the Fence, Finding Shorts.......................................................... 15
8. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION OF ELECTRIC FENCES ... 16
8.1 Denitions.................................................................................. 16
8.2 General Requirements for Electric Fences ................................................. 16
9. WARRANTY ............................................................................... 17
9.1 For Assistance ............................................................................. 17
9.2 Service or Repairs ......................................................................... 17
9.3 Contacts ................................................................................... 17
Table of Contents (continued)
WARNING
Risk of shock!
►High voltages exist inside the electric fence energizer and on the fence terminals.
►High voltages are also retained for a while after switching o󰀨. It is advisable to wait for at least 10
minutes before opening the energizer case.
►Before working on the high voltage wiring of an electric fence, it is recommended that the energizer
be turned o󰀨 and an intentional short circuit be placed from the fence live wires to earth. This is a
precaution against the energizer being turned on while work on the fence is in progress

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1. IMPORTANT NOTES – PLEASE READ
1.1 Electric Fences
1. Electric fences must be installed only in accordance with the relevant Standards and
Workplace Health and Safety regulations.
2. Electric fences are designed to deliver a short, safe shock. Do not let children play near them.
3. Electric fences must have warning signs. These must comply with IEC standards and should
be prominently displayed on electric fences at distances specied by the country in which
they are installed.
4. In order to operate e󰀨ectively, electric fences must be well earthed. This involves the use of
galvanized, *steel stakes/spikes/rods/electrodes (various terms are in use) driven into the
earth at a depth of at least 1.2m. A minimum of 3 earth stakes are recommended at the
energizer. Additional earth stakes may be required on higher powered energizers and along
the fence in dry soil conditions. The deeper the earth stakes, the better.
* Hot-dipped galvanized steel earth stakes are recommended because the e󰀨ectiveness
of the earthing is reduced by corrosion at the joints. This is caused by the electrolytic
e󰀨ect resulting from a current owing through unlike metals making contact in a moist
environment.
1.2 Energizers
1. The energizer places a very short, safe, high voltage pulse on the fence live wires approximately
once every second. Please be advised that there is always a risk associated with any device
designed to impart an electric shock. Do not allow children or elderly persons to touch the
energizer or fence live wires.
2 The maximum length of fence able to be energized depends on many factors, for example the
earth resistance, competition from vegetation, number, spacing and conguration of wires –
series or parallel, type/quality of insulators, resistance of wire type used, etc. Another factor to
consider is acceptable fence voltage: for some livestock situations this is 3kV, others require
more or less. Therefore the rated mileage of fence that the energizer will power e󰀨ectively is
a guide only.
3. WARNING! The energizer should never be operated with the cover removed as high voltages
exist inside the enclosure while operating. High voltage may remain on some internal parts
long after the unit has been switched o󰀨.
1.3 Power Supply Options
The JVA MB series of electric fence energizers can be powered from a range of power sources.
• 12V Battery
• 24V Battery
• 12V Battery with Solar panel
• 240Vac (via Power Pack)

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N.B.
►Do not connect directly to mains – use the power supply provided.
►The JVA MB8, MB12 and MB16 energizers have limited power supply options. For more
information please refer to section 2.3 on page 5.
►When using a battery option, always ensure adequate ventilation is given to the battery. Lead-
acid batteries may emit explosive gases while charging!
►Always mount the power supply either indoors or undercover.
1.4 Auto-Sync™
Auto-Sync™ is a new method of synchronizing electric fence energizers, patented by Pakton
Developments Pty Ltd.
Auto-sync detects when something or someone touches the wires from two di󰀨erent electric fences,
and synchronizes the output pulses so that the potentially dangerous condition of receiving more
than one pulse per second is avoided.
The magnitude and frequency of the electric fence pulse is restricted by safety standards such as
IEC60335.2.76. This limitation is specically intended to ensure that a shock received from the
energizer (and hence the fence) is safe for humans. An important part of the safety requirement is
that the person receives no more than one shock per second. When the pulses are one second or
more apart, the human body treats them as separate events and the heart is una󰀨ected. Receiving
more than one pulse per second can interrupt the natural rhythm of the heart.
Although international safety standards require a 2.5 metre gap between live wires powered from
two di󰀨erent unsynchronized energizers, through neglect or ignorance this is often not adhered
to. For example, live wires running down both sides of farm dividing fences are a common sight.
An energizer running the Pakton patented Auto-SyncTM technology can synchronize with any
brand of energizer, provided that the energizer conforms to international standards regarding
pulse timing.
If synchronization cannot be achieved or is lost, the
energizer will not shut down. It will continue to operate
as though no foreign signal were present on the fence
(i.e. its regular pulse frequency and energy output).
1.5 Wi-Fi
The JVA MB8, MB12 and MB16 have a built-in Wi-Fi
module.
This enables the owner/user to monitor and control the
energizer via an Android or iOS smartphone.
Alongside is a example screenshot of the application.

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1.6 Rechargeable Batteries
1. If powered from a rechargeable battery, JVA MB energizers are compatible with lead-acid
batteries. SLA battery life is shortened considerably if it is
a) left in a discharged state or
b) exposed to very high temperatures.
2. When not in use, store the solar energizer in such a way as to allow the panel to get as much
light as possible, such as on a window sill with the panel facing outwards. Take the unit out
into sunlight for a few hours once every month to keep the battery from self- discharging.
3. WARNING!
SLA batteries can produce hydrogen. The energizer case is designed to release hydrogen
gas to prevent an explosion. Do not take steps to further seal the case. Return the unit for
repair if the O-ring seal has become damaged.
2. JVA MODELS AND FEATURES
2.1 Features
Table 1
MB8 MB12 MB16
Mains powered via 12V Power Pack 
Battery powered 
Solar powered
Digital control

‘Smooth’ wave shape 
Power on demand 
LCD showing kV and stored energy

Ant & moisture protection

UV stable enclosure

Overload indication (audible and visible) 
Lightning protection

Reverse battery protection

Self-resetting fuse

Solar capability 
Solar Ready (includes battery, regulator & solar panel)
Low battery indication

Flat battery indication


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MB8 MB12 MB16
Over discharge battery protection

Battery life maximization

Battery voltage measurement

Stored joules 12J 18 J 24 J
Energy output 8 J 12 J 16 J
Power consumption at 12.5Vdc 0.9 A 1.25 A 1.6 A
Warranty 2 Years 2 Years 2 Years
Power adapter included (24Vdc) 
Battery leads included 
Audible alarm 
Auto recover

Auto-SyncTM

Bi-Polar output 
Wi-Fi Capable 
2.2 BenetsofFeatures
• The battery life maximization works by slowing the frequency of high voltage pulses
just before the battery dies to keep the energizer operating for as long as possible without
damaging the battery.
• The over discharge battery protection will stop the energizer when the battery is at and
ash the status LED twice each second. This stops too much charge being extracted from the
battery and prevents permanent damage. The energizer will restart automatically once the
battery voltage returns to a normal level.
• The reverse battery protection protects the energizer from damage should the external
battery be connected the wrong way round in error.
• The MB series of energizers has the electronics enclosed inside a durable UV stable
case to protect against ants, moisture and dust and so maximize reliability.
• The overload indication warns if the fence is heavily loaded by ashing a warning LED and
alerting with a short audible beep.
• The MB series utilizes the latest digital microcontroller technology to extend battery life,
provide useful feedback on the energizer status, and increase reliability and performance.
• The audible alarm will sound in the event of a serious error for 30 seconds and then shut
down for 7 minutes before sounding again.
• The Auto Recover feature will attempt to recover the energizer from severe errors which
cause the energizer to stop working. This automatic recovery process will occur at 7-minute
intervals.

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• Our patented Auto-SyncTM technology prevents the potentially dangerous condition of
receiving a shock of more than one pulse per second. JM we’ll need to do something with
this orphan bit?.
• Power on demand automatically increases the power to heavy fence loads.
• To use the MB Range with a solar panel, an external 12 volt sealed lead-acid battery, solar
panel and solar regulator are required.
2.3 Specications
Table 2
Specications
Model
*a Energizer
output
voltage
Stored
Energy Power *d 12V drain
*c Solar Panel Size for
Minimum Expected Sun Hours
Per Day
*c
Solar
Battery
Peak
Output
3hrs 4hrs 5hrs >6hrs
MB8 8.2kV 12J *b 12 to
24Vdc 0.9A 150W 120W 100W 85W 150Ah 8J
MB12 8.2kV 18J *b 12 to
24Vdc 1.25A 180W 150W 120W 100W 200Ah 12J
MB16 8.2kV 24J *b 12 to
24Vdc 1.6A 220W 180W 150W 120W 260Ah 16J
KEY:
*a No load, actual voltage on a short fence can be as high as 10kV
*b The energizer can also be powered from 240Vac by using the external power pack supplied with
the energizer.
*c Minimum recommended sizes for 5 consecutive days of overcast weather.
*d Current drain rating is for a 12V power source. Current drain will vary with voltage.
In line with our policy of continual improvement, specications are subject to change without notice.

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1
3
2
4
7
9
1. ON/OFF switch
2. Status indicates fence overload or internal energizer fault (red LED)
3. Energizer On and OK indicator (green LED)
4. High power fence connection terminal
5. Half power fence connection terminal
6. Ground/Earth return connection terminal
7. 12 volt battery clips (black = negative, red = positive)
8. LCD – Liquid Crystal Display
9. Model number panel
10. Rubber O-ring seal between front and back case pieces
3. PARTS OF THE ENERGIZER
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5 6
10
WARNING: Do not connect the energizer directly to mains. Use the 12VDC power supply provided.

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3.1 Fence Connectors
High Power
Terminal
Earth
Terminal
Low Power
Terminal
Full Voltage Operation
1. The Green Earth Terminal (right) should be connected to suitable electric fence earth stakes.
2. The Red Fence Terminal (left) should be connected to the live wires of the fence.
Low Voltage Operation (MB series only)
1. The Green Earth Terminal (right) should be connected to suitable electric fence earth stakes.
2. The Yellow Fence Terminal (centre) should be connected to the live wires of the fence.
Bi-Polar Operation (MB series only)
1. The Green Earth Terminal (right) should be connected to one of the live wires on the fence.
(This will become negative relative to true earth.
2. The Yellow Fence Terminal (centre) should be connected to suitable electric fence earth
stakes.
3. The Red Fence Terminal (left) should be connected to the other live wire on the fence. (This
will become positive relative to true earth.)

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Status red LED – This LED has multiple functions, listed below:
• Flashes – slowly (once per pulse) when the load exceeds an acceptable level indicating that
the fence probably has a fault. Operating in the overloaded condition for extended periods of
time will NOT harm the energizer. See Common Energizer Problems below.
• Flashes – twice in quick succession (2 ashes per pulse) to indicate the battery is low. Arrange
to change or recharge the battery. See Common Energizer Problems below.
• Flashes – an error code if an internal error causes the energizer to shut down. See Common
Energizer Problems below.
Energizer OK green LED – Flashes with each pulse to show the unit is on and operating correctly.
Kilovolts display – Shows the voltage on the output terminals of the energizer. The higher the
voltage the more e󰀨ective the fence will be.
Joules display – This new feature allows one to see how much energy the energizer is storing for
each fence pulse. On smaller fences the voltage will be high but the energy may be low; on larger
and longer fences, as the voltage starts to drop, the energizer will ramp up the amount of energy
it is storing between high voltage pulses to try to maintain a good fence voltage.
Power Supply Voltage display – When the energizer is turned o󰀨 it will display the power supply
voltage. This is useful for checking the battery voltage status quickly.
3.3 Power Button
The power button turns the energizer on or o󰀨, and silences the beeper.
• If the energizer is o󰀨, push the Power button to turn it on.
• If the beeper is giving an audible warning, push the Power button to silence the beeper for 10
minutes.
• If the energizer is on, push the Power button to turn it of.
3.2 Energizer LED Display
This feature is included in all units.

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4. INSTALLATION
4.1 Location of the Energizer
If possible keep the energizer in a cool and dry environment (either indoors or at least well
covered) to maximize reliability. To deter any water ingress, keep the energizer upright when
located outdoors.
4.3 Mounting the Energizer
There are a number of mounting options.
• Wall Mount: The energizer may be mounted from two screws
• Shelf Mount: Lay or stand the energizer on a shelf
• Hang Mount: Thread wire or string through the keyholes to hang the energizer, or hang the
energizer from a single nail or hook.
4.3 Connecting the Energizer to the Fence (Standard)
The electric fence requires a dedicated ground/earth system. Drive at least three earth stakes into
the ground to a depth of at least 1.2m. Attach a wire from the green Earth Terminal on the front of
the energizer to the earth stakes in the ground.
For full power: connect a wire from the red Fence Terminal on the front of the energizer to the live
wire of the fence.
For half power: connect a wire from the yellow Fence Terminal on the front of the energizer to the
live wire of the fence.
4.4 Connecting the Energizer to the Fence (Bi-Polar)
The electric fence requires a dedicated ground/earth system. Drive at least three galvanized earth
stakes into the ground to a depth of at least 1.2m. Attach a wire from the yellow (half power)
Terminal on the front of the energizer to the earth stakes in the ground. Connect the red Fence
Terminal to one of the bi-polar, live fence wires, and the green Earth Terminal to the other bi-polar
live, fence wire.
4.5 Powering the Energizer
1. Battery Power Source: Attach the energizer to the battery and connect the red clip to the
positive battery terminal and the black clip to the negative battery terminal. For battery choice
see the specication table (Table 2 page 5).
Mains Power Source: Attach the energizer to the supplied power pack. Plug the power pack
into the mains power outlet and turn on the switch at the wall.
2. Turn the energizer on by pushing the Power button once.

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5. OPERATION
5.1 Electric Fences
Electric fence energizers work by discharging a short, safe, high voltage pulse onto the fence
wires. The animal will not be harmed by a pulse, but it will remember to avoid contact with the
energized fence in future.
The high voltage is discharged from the red, positive fence terminal of the energizer and this is
connected to the fence wire or electric fence tape to make them live or ‘hot’ wires. Live wires must
be insulated from earth or any conductive material touching the ground, e.g. fence posts).
The green terminal connector on the energizer is the earth (or ground) terminal. Electric fences
need earthing to complete the circuit: When an animal touches the live wire of the fence, a current
will ow from the live wire, through the animal, back through the ground or the earth return wires
to the earth stake and back up to the energizer earth terminal thereby completing the circuit. (See
Fig 1 below)
On touching the earth terminal on the energizer or the earth stakes in the ground, no shock should
be felt. If a shock is felt on either of the above, it is an indication that the earthing is insu󰀩cient. To
overcome this problem, extra earth stakes need to be added to the system. The better the quality
of the earthing system, the more e󰀨ective and e󰀩cient the electric fence system will be.
The more earth stakes in the ground and the higher the moisture content in the soil, the better
the system will function. The higher powered (higher joule rated) the energizer and the longer the
fence, the more earthing is required.
In very dry conditions and sandy soils, it is recommended that a dedicated earth wire be added
to the fence line. This in turn should be connected to the energizer earth and the ground/earth
stakes. (See Fig 2)
For best results locate the energizer as centrally as possible in a fencing layout. For the Bi-Polar
unit refer to 4.4 on page 9.
The fence and the earth voltages can be measured using an electric fence digital voltmeter, or a
digital electric fence directional fault nder, such as the JVA Electric Fence Digital Directional Fault
Finder.
5.2 BenetsofElectricFences
► An electric fence o󰀨ers a psychological barrier as well as a physical barrier.
►The risk of injury to livestock is lower than with barbed wire fences.
►Electric fences cost less to install and maintain than conventional fencing. Users enjoy low
maintenance costs because their stock stays o󰀨 the fence.
►Their use is versatile:
– they can be permanent or portable systems
– they can be arranged in variety of designs to suit needs
– they are quick and easy to erect
►They improve pasture and grazing control
►They can improve existing fence life as a result of less physical pressure on the fence
►They are easy to set up compared with traditional fences.

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5.3 All-Live Wire, Earth Return System (Fig 1)
The Earth Return (also known as Ground Return) conguration is the most common method of
conguration for electric fences, particularly smaller fence applications such as strip grazing. The
fence live wire(s) are electried and rely on the ground to complete the circuit back to the energizer
earth terminal when an animal touches the fence.
The electrical circuit
is closed between
the fence and the ground
when the animal touches the fence
Due to the dry soil, there is not
adequate current ow in the
ground, and a good circuit is not
completed
The circuit is closed when the animal nudges
both the live and Earth wires of a fence
A good circuit requires adequate current ow through
the ground (through moist soil)
5.4 Live-/Earth-Wire Fence Return System (Fig 2)
The live-/earth-wire fence return conguration for electric fences is used where the soil is too
dry to complete the circuit adequately, or the animals are likely to try to force their way through
between the fence wires. In this system earth wire(s) are also run along the fence with the live
wire(s) to provide a low resistance path for the current to return to the energizer. This system, if the
soil is moist enough, will also function as a return path for the current when the animal touches the
live wire, and if the soil is not moist or has poor conductance, this system will still keep the fence
e󰀨ective provided the animal touches both a live and the earth wire simultaneously.
Fig 1
Fig 2
The earthed fence wire provides the current ow required
to complete the circuit when the ground cannot.
Earth
Stake
Earth
Stake

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The electrical circuit is fully closed when the
animal touches both +ve and -ve wires
5.5 Bi-Polar System (Fig 3)
A Bi-Polar fence is a combination of both the earth return system and the fence return system. The
benets are:
1. If either the positive or negative fence wires are loaded with a fault and have a low voltage,
the other wire will not be a󰀨ected by the fault and still have good voltage on it.
2. A bi-polar fence will interfere less with wireless signals (e.g. digital TV) because the electrical
noise generated by the fence will cancel itself out.
3. It is less a󰀨ected by parasitic elements of the fence, which means it can power longer fences
more e󰀨ectively.
Fig 3
Where the ground permits good current ow (moist soil),
current can ow in both directions to complete the circuit
Earth
Stake
5.6 Earthing Your Energizer
The best way to earth an energizer is to use a minimum of 1.2 metre galvanized earth stakes.
If the earth stake is too rusty it will not work properly. The best place to locate the earth stake is
somewhere close to where the fence commences and if possible where the ground is damp such
as a garden bed, a water course, or the overow from a rain water tank. (South African regulations
require a minimum of 3 earth stakes to be located close to the energizer.) Do not connect the earth
of the energizer to a metal shed, metal pipes or utility earthing system as this could lead to shock
from tap, showers etc.
5.7 Semi-Permanent and Permanent Fences
The quickest and easiest way to set up a permanent fence is to use steel posts, but timber and
berglass posts can also be used. Make sure that the wires are tight enough to eliminate sagging.
2.5mm galvanized fence wire is recommended as poly tape or rope will degrade and break over
time. Warning signs need to be tted as per the requirements outlined in the, General Requirements
for Electric Fences section of this manual.

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5.8 The Importance of Insulators
If the live wire is not well insulated the fence load will be much higher. This means that, for any
given length of fence, the voltage will be lower. Pieces of wood and garden hose are not good
insulators! For reliable results standard insulators designed for this purpose are recommended.
In a live-/earth-wire fence return system the earth wire(s) do not need to be insulated. In fact,
if using steel intermediates, the more times the earth wire touches a metal post the better it is
earthed/grounded.
UV stable poly insulators will last much longer than non-UV stable plastics. Plastic insulators are
not as susceptible to fracture as ceramic insulators. However, ceramic insulators are better in
grass, re prone areas as they do not melt.
5.9 Maintenance
Maintaining permanent fences is important, especially during the warmer months when plant
growth is at its highest and after any disruptive weather events.
1. Check the fence voltage using an electric fence voltmeter. The JVA Fault Finder will also
detect faults and direct you towards them.
2. Keep vegetation away from the fence. If it touches the fence it will reduce its performance.
The judicious use of weed killer may be used if so wished to deter any growth.
3. Check that nothing has fallen against the fence and that the wires are not broken or have
been unclipped from insulators.
4. Check the condition of the earthing system for corrosion and loose joints.
5. Check that lightning diverters are all still operational.
6. Check and tighten any loose line clamps along the fence.
7. Check the energizer battery. If the energizer is ashing a low battery warning it is time to
recharge or replace the battery.
6. COMMON ENERGIZER PROBLEMS
The most common problems with electric fence energizers are:
• Flat batteries
• Lightning
• Moisture and ants
• Blown fuses
The intelligent JVA Series of energizers will self-diagnose and report their status. (See Errors and
Error Codes) on the LED and LCD displays.

MB8, MB12, MB16
14
JVA AgriRange Energizers
6.1 Flat Batteries
The JVA series energizers, to run e󰀨ectively, require a battery that is in good condition. The
energizer will protect the battery by slowing down and eventually stopping altogether as the battery
charge is depleted. For best results, check on the energizer at regular intervals. If not receiving the
expected life from a battery consider having it checked by an electrician.
6.2 Lightning
The JVA range of energizers is covered by a two-year warranty that excludes lightning. Surge
protection components inside the energizer are tted to reduce the risk of damage by lightning.
However, nature is capable of performing more extremely than can be tested for in the laboratory;
to ensure the wellbeing of your JVA investment for the longer term, it is recommended that a
Lightning Protection Kit is installed to prevent lightning damage and possible costly repairs.
6.3 Moisture and Ants
Moisture and ants should not be a signicant problem for the JVA range of energizers as they are
protected in a weatherproof case. However, where possible, keep the energizer protected from
the weather.
6.4 Blown Fuses
The fuse used is a self-resetting type. Disconnect the power for a minute and then reapply the
power. If the unit still does not power up, return it to a service centre.
6.5 Errors and Error Codes
The JVA Energizer may stop and display error codes. The error codes are displayed in two places.
The rst of these is on the Status (red) LED, where it will ash rapidly a number of times. The
number of these ashes corresponds to the Error Code. The second place is on the LCD, where
it will display a message.
Table 3
Error
Code #
Red
LED
Flashes
LCD Display Meaning
2 2 Battery symbol
“Lo b”
Flat Battery: the energizer will recover and re-start when
the battery is recharged.
6 6 “Er 06” High battery: the energizer will restart when the battery
voltage returns to the correct range
Errors 2 and 6 indicate the battery voltage is either too low or too high. The energizer will restart as
soon as the voltage returns to the correct range. All other errors indicate an internal malfunction.
Should the error continue to re-occur, please return the unit to a qualied service centre for repair.
There are no user-serviceable parts inside the energizer. All internal fuses will automatically reset
themselves.

MB8, MB12, MB16
15
JVA AgriRange Energizers
7. COMMON FENCE PROBLEMS
The most common problem with electric fences is low voltage on the live wires caused by
• Inadequate earthing/grounding
• Shorts on the fence
For tips on fence construction please refer to an Electric Fencing Manual.
7.1 Testing the Earthing/Grounding System
The earth/ground is essential to all electric fence systems. Larger energizers require more earth
spikes/stakes/rods/electrodes.Additionally, all energizers require a low resistance wired connection
from the energizer earth terminal to the earth stake.
Short the end of your fence to earth by hammering a metal stake into the soil and connecting
this to the live fence wire. Using an electric fence voltmeter or a JVA Electric Fence Fault Finder,
(Do not use a standard multimeter.) check the voltage is at the earth terminal of the energizer. In
general it should be a reading less than 300 volts (0.3kV).
7.2 Testing the Fence, Finding Shorts
To test the performance of the fence or nd faults on the fence, an electric fence voltmeter is
essential, and a JVA Electric Fence Fault Finder is even better. An e󰀨ective fence will have more
than 2 kV (2000 volts).

MB8, MB12, MB16
16
JVA AgriRange Energizers
8. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND
CONNECTION OF ELECTRIC FENCES
Instructions for installation and connection of electric fences vary from country to country. Most are
based on the International Electrical Commission (IEC) AS60335.2.76 specications.
This material is copyright of the International Electrical Commission (IEC).
It is recommended that, in addition, local electric fencing legislation be consulted as well.
8.1 Denitions
Connecting lead an electric conductor, used to connect the energizer to the electric fence
or the earth electrode (stake)
Electric animal fence an electric fence used to contain animals within or exclude animals from
a particular area
Electric fence a barrier which includes one or more electric conductors, insulated from
earth, to which electric pulses are applied by an energizer
8.2 General Requirements for Electric Fences
1. Electric animal fences shall be installed and operated so that they cause no electrical hazard
to persons, animals or their surroundings.
2. Electric animal fence constructions which are likely to lead to the entanglement of animals or
persons shall be avoided.
3. An electric animal fence shall not be supplied from two di󰀨erent energizers or from independent
fence circuits of the same energizer. For any two separate electric animal fences, each
supplied from a separate energizer independently timed, the distance between the wires of
the two electric animal fences shall be at least 2 m. If this gap is to be closed, this shall be
e󰀨ected by means of electrically non-conductive material or an isolated metal barrier.
4. Barbed wire or razor wire shall not be electried by an energizer.
5. Any part of an electric animal fence that is installed along a public road or pathway shall be
identied at frequent intervals by warning signs securely fastened to the fence posts or rmly
clamped to the fence wires.
a) The size of the warning sign shall be at least 100 mm ×
200 mm.
b) The background colour of both sides of the warning sign
shall be yellow. The inscription on the sign shall be black
and shall be either:
• the symbol of Figure 3, or
• the substance of TAKE CARE – ELECTRIC ANIMAL
FENCE
c) The inscription shall be indelible, inscribed on both sides
of the warning sign and have a height of at least 25 mm.
Figure 4
Warning plate symbol